I wasn’t quite satisfied with the varnish (actually an epoxy) that I was using for the wood racks, so I looked around and got some better goo. The new stuff is three coats of marine spar varnish and it’s not only super rugged, but gorgeous too. If you have a good monitor you should be able to click on the photo for the full resolution image and really be able to see how well this stuff brings out the grain.

I got an inquiry about making a front pannier rack for a Moulton recently and it would be complex enough that I decided I couldn’t commit to all the design and fixture work unless I were to make a few of them. I mean seriously, look at that octopus in the picture he sent me. Anyway, if I do get enough interest I would love to make some of these so if you have a Moulton NS and want a killer front rack get in touch. Also, I will need a local bike to measure so if you are in the Portland area and want to show off your ride and let me set the calipers to it I’d appreciate that too.

So one of the senior design projects in the engineering program I’m in is Human Powered Vehicle: build a recumbent and race it. My official job title for this year’s project was “The ‘You’re Doing it Wrong’ Guy”, as in it was my job to say that a lot because I had the most bike experience. It paid off though, we got 2nd place in the Unlimited class in the Western US competition. And we beat the School that has been dominating both the East and West competitions the past few years in two of the races.

I’m definitely usually one to talk down on recumbents (and for the most part I still will) but I have to say this thing is really fun to ride. You can maintain control when getting it up on two wheels in the corners and slamming through the gears on a flat will get you up close to 30 no problem. Oh and did I mention it has a really nice rack? It even stood up to the barrel-rolling that Lauren gave it at 25mph (all in the name of testing of course).

What does spring mean here at TCB HQ? Total. Freakout. City.

I’ve been getting a ton of orders right when the meat and potatoes of some school projects are really hitting the fan. Don’t you people know that it’s gorgeous out and I’m supposed to be on a carefree bike ride?

Oh wait, here it is.

“It shall be a violation for success to be a blessing without also being a curse”
-Murphy’s Codified, Section 15, paragraph 6, subclause 3F.

Yeah, I could have worse problems. To comfort myself I ate that pancake. It had bacon and chocolate chips in it. I win.

Sent a rail set as a kit to a guy on the east coast who wanted to make his own top planks recently and they turned out gorgeous!

And made his own bag too.

Photos by Jim Grey

Nice job Jim!

New phone means I can take even crappier pictures! But at least I can take horrible shots of cool stuff. First off, I’ve been putting in quite a bit of time in the machine shop at school so I get 10 points for the first pic, which is the pile of shavings that came out when boring a 1.5″ hole in inch thick stainless steel. Power tools are fun.

And I was flying out of PDX and saw one of my racks parked at the airport. I don’t know who you are but you get 10 points. I don’t yet know what the points are good for but hold on to them.

testing testing

Finally got the wood top plates the way I like them, and excuse me while I congratulate myself in saying they look hott. The first runs will be birch, but I do plan on finding some other woods including bamboo and okume pretty soon. Ruckus has to get through their first run of tops before I can deliver carbon fiber planks, but that’s on the menu too.

Sizing, load limits and compatibility are the same as the other Pret a Porteurs, so scope that page for those details.

$165 for birch and the others will be a bit more.

So I’ve been working a lot on some new projects this summer and they are very close to fruition. I don’t want to promise more than I have until I gots the goods but I will say that I’m millimeters away (literally and figuratively) from offering things that folks have been asking for since I started producing. And I’ve only waited so long because I wanted to do it right. And I’m doing it right. Here’s a couple pics of some recent custom jobs to whet appetites for now.

So I’ve been working a lot on some new projects this summer and they are very close to fruition. I don’t want to promise more than I have until I gots the goods but I will say that I’m millimeters away (literally and figuratively) from offering things that folks have been asking for since I started producing. And I’ve only waited so long because I wanted to do it right. And I’m doing it right. Here’s a couple pics of some recent custom jobs to whet appetites for now.